Evidence of meeting #19 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was syrian.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director General, Emergency Management Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I'm very happy to hear that. Thank you.
Conservative
February 8th, 2012 / 4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Conservative
Lois Brown Conservative Newmarket—Aurora, ON
I'll put the question on the floor, and if there's any opportunity to address it.... I'm just wondering what our engagement has been with the Arab League, what kinds of communications we have had with them, if any, and how they are going.
Director General, Middle East and Maghreb Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I can give a very quick response to that. Our ambassador in Cairo, where the Arab League has its headquarters, has met with the head of the Arab League. We continue our conversations at various levels, but dialogue has occurred right at the top.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay. I think Madam Laverdière has a quick question, just to wrap up.
NDP
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
There may be two very quick questions.
First, on ROCA, do dual citizens generally register on ROCA, and are the Canadians registered on ROCA mainly expats or dual citizens?
Director General, Emergency Management Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
They're mainly dual citizens. We have very few Canadians who don't have dual citizenship registered with us in the database.
NDP
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Okay. Thank you.
I have one other question, and it's a big question. In a few words, could you give us your assessment of the current state of the Syrian army? There have been reports that the army was starting to lose ground and has fewer resources and is getting weaker.
Director General, Middle East and Maghreb Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
The Syrian army is large and extremely well equipped. It is also, in general, very loyal. It is a formidable force.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Mr. Eyking, you can have one last question, and then we're going to wrap up.
Liberal
Mark Eyking Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
I have a question about Lebanon. Lebanon was once part of Syria, way back, and there's a close connection. When you talk to the Lebanese community in Canada, you hear that they're very worried because they have relatives in Syria, and vice versa. There are people working back and forth.
Are there any concerns we should worry about on the Lebanese border or on refugees coming in? What could be the repercussions for Lebanon of everything that's happening?
Director General, Middle East and Maghreb Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
You've highlighted exactly the concern. If there is sectarian tension in Syria, it will likely spill over the border into Lebanon, where the same sectarian groups are represented, so there is a risk. There's also a risk of refugee flows, of people who are afraid of the mounting violence fleeing over the border towards Lebanon.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Ms. Martin and Mr. Dubeau, thank you very much for being here.
We're going to adjourn the meeting now. We won't be coming back in the second hour only because there's not going to be enough time.
Thank you very much.
The meeting is adjourned.
